Pole vaulting standard



Dec. 21, 1965 T. O. OLSEN POLE VAULTING STANDARD Filed Oct. l5, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

THOMAS O. OLSEN ATTORNEY DC 21, 1965 T. o. oLsEN 3,224,764

POLE VAULTING STANDARD Filed Oct. l5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.THOMAS O. OLS EN ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,224,764 PLE VAULTHNGSTANDARD Thomas 0. Olsen, Salina, Kans., assigner of one-tenth to GeraldR. Sebi-ee and one-fifth to Milton L. Morrison, both of Salina, Kans.,and one-fifth to Kenneth Morrison, Hastings, Nehr.

Filed (ict. 15, 1%3, Ser. No. 316,268 Claims. (Cl. 272--59) My inventionconcerns a standard particularly adapted for pole valulting. It may beadapted in a lower height for high jumping. Briey the specificembodiment illustrated includes an upper standard pivotally connected toa lower standard and pivotal between an upright position supporting arail for vaulting and a lower generally horizontal position convenientto place the rail on its supporting pins. Means are provided forsecuring the rail in position on its supporting pins until the upperstandard is pivoted to its upright position and until it is desirable torelease the rail. The single supporting pin on each standard is mountedon brackets adjustable to various positions and supporting the rail in acantilevered manner from the upper standard so that the hazard of avaulter falling short and striking the ground, standard or supportingbase is minimized.

Few changes have been made in vaulting standards. Field and trackcompetition may be said to be increasingly popular events andimprovements in equipment are desirable. The new fiber glass reinforcedvaulting poles have resulted in higher vaults and improvements areparticularly desirable in vaulting equipment, especially for purposes ofsafety and for minimizing time taken for replacing dislodged rails,particularly during meets. My invention concerns rather basic changes invaulting standards to serve those purposes.

During vaulting frequently the rail is struck by the vaulter and 4fallsform its supporting pins on the standards. It is ditlicult to replacethe rail and this is an unduly time consuming operation during track andfield meets. The task of replacing the rail has been renderedincreasingly ditlicult as higher vaults have been achieved, now passingthe seventeen foot mark. Replacing the rail is difficult even at thelower levels such as nine to fifteen foot marks in high schoolcompetition. The difficulty of replacement is increased on windy days.The rail is often blown from its supporting pins during periods when thewind is strong or has severe gusts, so the problem is not only one ofthe rail being dislodged by a vaulter. Practice is sometimes abandonedon such days, although operations have to be continued during meets andthe rails are replaced time and again. This is particularly unfortunateduring meets as the vaulters may grow cold while waiting for the rail tobe replaced and to remain in position. Preferably rails are replacedwith a minimum of time so that the vaulter will not grow cold (coldmeaning actual temperature on chilly days and meaning the physiologicaland psychological reactions to interruptions in efforts on any day).

The objectives of my invention include: reducing the time required toreplace vaulting rails and minimizing difculty from wind; to providemeans for lowering the rail supporting means on vaulting standards fordirect manual replacement of the rail from the ground, therebyminimizing time of replacement; and to provide means for securing therail on the place on its supporting pins during raising of the standard,or until vaulting or at all times during practice vaulting, particularlyon windy days.

As rails bow between supporting standards, the heights -in vaultingcannot `be merely measured from the ground level to the supporting pins.Instead the measurement is made for each rail for the top of thetake-off box to the middle of the rail. As long as the rail ispositioned Cil with the same side down, this one measurement is suf- ICCcient for purposes of calibration of indicated versus actual heights,until the rail is broken or bent. This means the support for the pins ona vaulting standard has to be adjustable in fractions of inches from thesupported base. It is common to space the supporting pins at nine inchintervals which means that adjustable mounting of the pins relative thestandard base is indicated even for inch adjustments of heights. It isan object of the invention to provide an adjustable vertical mountingfor the rail supporting pins on the standards in an economical andeasily operated manner. The implicit assumption in the prior art appearsto have been that a series of superimposed pins are needed on eachstandard and it is a further objective of my invention to devise astructure whereby essentially only one pin is needed on each standard.

When an athlete makes a vault and comes down too close to the rail or onthe rail he may even miss the landing pit and he is in danger ofstriking the standards or the supporting base (or sandbags covering thebase). The athlete risks severe injury in such short vaults. Apparentlyit has been assumed in the prior art that the standards and the railhave to lie substantially in the same vertical plane, and that thelanding pit has to lie beyond that plane. It is an object of myinvention to support the pins (and the rail thereon) on the standard ina cantilevered manner in the direction of and above the landing pit orthe like so that an athlete coming down short may still land in thelanding pit and. avoid striking the standard, its base or anything otherthan the prepared landing surface.

Additional objectives and advantages of my structure, including theprovision of an easily operated, adaptable and economical structure,will be understood from the following description, read with referenceto the drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational View of a specific embodiment of myimproved vaulting standard, the upper standard being shown in a firstupright position and a second generally horizontal position.

FIGURE 2 is a View, partly in section, taken on line 2--2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in section, taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of thevalve means in the hydraulic cylinder.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged side elevational View of the pin supportingbracket and associated structure, the means for securing the rail to thepin being shown in a first securing position and in a second removedposition.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged side elevational View, partly in section, of thearea of the structure where the upper standard is pivoted to the lowerstandard, the upper standard being shown in an upright and in agenerally horizontal position.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary View, partly in section, taken online 7--7 of FIGURE 6, concerning the latching means for the upperstandard in its horizontal position.

FIGURE 8 is a face elevational view, fragmentary and on enlarged scale,of the latching mechanism.

FIGURES 9 and l0 are similar and show two positions of the latohingmechanism, the views being fragmentary and partly in section.

The following description will describe hoW the structure illustrated inthe drawings rmeets `the objectives of the invention and the advantagestheneof. It will be observed from FIGURE l that the pin supportingstructure on the upper standard is lowered to a convenient position forreplacement of the rails. Securing means is provided for securing therail in place. This not only avoids dislodging during raising but alsopermits the rail to be released at the last second during the vaultingon windy days. In practice sessions, particularly on windy days, therail may be left secured in position, as the vaulter and tlhe coachwilll be able to tell when the rail has been struck without it actuallybeing displaced from the pins. It will be observed the rail is supportedin a cantilevered manner on the landing pit side of the standards toavoid injury to the vaulter if he lands short of the normal landingarea. I have devised a landing net used as a substitute for a landingpit and having Various advantages in avoiding injury to vau-lters,including catching the vaulter if he jumps short, and it is desirablewith the use of the landing net to lhave the rail supported in acantilevered manner as this in line with other measures for minimizingthe chances of injury to the vaulters.

FIGURE 1 shows one of a pair of standards used to support a rail 10, theone shown being on the left hand facing the landing pit, the onlydifference between the right and left hand being that the pin securingmechanism is positioned on the side of the bracket toward the outside.This is not necessary but is desirable to clear the area between thepins.

Upper standard 12 is pivotally mounted on the upper end of l-owerstandard 14 by pivotal mounting means 16 [not shown but preferablyincluding sealed ball bearings. The llower standard is supported by abase 18.

The take-of box of conventional construction is shown in phantom inFIGURE 1. Vaulters have individual preferences as to the distancebetween the vertical plane of the portion of the take-off box receivingthe butt end of the vaulting pole and the vertical plane of the rail.The take-oft box 2@ is positioned fixed in the ground with its top edgelevel with the usual concrete supporting surfaces for the standards, sothe standards rather than the take-oil box have to be adjusted inposition as to the separation of the above mentioned vertical planes. Iprovide for the adjustment of the positions of the standards relative tothe take-off box by the structure detailed in FIGURE 1, 2 and 3 in whichthere is a cast iron footing 22 supporting a pair of channel tracks 24.Lower standard 14 is secured to platform 25 having rods 26 securedthereto having on their ends four rollers 28 running in channel tracks24. The rollers are not detailed but preferably include sealed ballbearings. The platform is secured in adjusted position along tracks 24by a screw 30 threaded into the platform and locking by being tightenedagainst the top of footing 22, the screw having a large head for aconvenient manual operation. There may be indicia between the platformand the rails for convenient resetting of the location of the standard14 on base 18. The vaulter positions the pole upright in the vaultingbox and then can tell from the distance from rail 10 where he wantsstandards 14 set. When the indicia is noted as to the location, this canbe reset each time the vaulter wants to use the standards.

It will be observed from FIGURES 1 and 6 that upper standard 12 has afirst upright position and a second generally horizontal position. Itwill be Aunderstood that the upright position is preferably exactlyaligned with the vertical and that the second position might as well beclose to the true horizontal. However, for the purpose of the presentspecification .and claims I do not wish to limit the expressions uprightand generally horizonal but wish to have them have their broadestmeanings suitable for accomplishing the purposes described, i.e., theexpansion generally horizontal is meant to encompass lowering the upperstandard 12 even to the point its end rests on the ground, although, asabove pointed out, a trurly horizontal position will be convenient.Other means have been considered for lowering the rail supporting pinsto a level for direct manual replacement of the rail on the pins by aman on the ground, but the form of articulation shown is preferred inwhich an upper standard is pivotally connected to a lower standard andin which the pins are thus lowered by simple pivoting of jointedmembers.

The pivotal assembly includes a pair of plates 36, 38 secured to upperstandard 12 and pivotaliy supported on lower standard 14 by pivotalmounting means 16 including a tube 4t) secured in lower standard 14.Hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly 42 has a piston rod 44% securedto a pin 46 at the lower end of plates 36, 38 and has its cylindersecured to platform 25 by means 48 such as a threaded bolt and nutassembly in a manner permitting some -tilting of the cylinder. It willbe observed from FIGURES 1 and 6 that the hydraulic piston and cylinderassembly extends and contracts as upper standard 12 is pivoted, formingan extensiblecontractable link.

A compression spring 50 between the upper end of l@he cylinder 52 andthe piston 54 normally acts to hold upper standard 12 in its uprightposition, the contraction of the assembly being limited by an abutment56 between plates 36, 38 and lower standard 14. Upper standard 12 islowered against the resistance tof the spring by pulling on a line 60 orby grasping the upper standard. The positive acting spring means ispreferred to mere counterbalancing of standard 12.

Hydraulic fluid oil is contained in the cylinder 52 but a one way checkvalve 62 permits flow of hydraulic iiuid past piston 54 at a fast enoughrate so that lowering of standard 12 is not appreciably retarded.However, check valve 62 acts against movement of the hydraulic fluid inthe opposite direction and the fluid is metered through slots 64 in thethreaded end of piston rod 44 disposed in piston 54. It will be observedthat the farther piston rod 44 is threaded into piston 54 the lower therate of metering of hydraulic fluid. This means that raising of standard12 by spring 5t] is retarded to a rate governed by the metering of thehydraulic iiuid through slots 64. This could be adjusted to a limit ofzero movement so that upper standard 12 may be raised as slowly asdesired. The purpose of this metering operation is partly to avoiddislodging rail 10 from its position on pins 63 by free aceleration ofstandard 12 to abutment 56, but means are provided to secure the rail inplace and a principal reason for providing for gradual raising ofstandard 12 is to avoid the shock and damage that might occur if thecompression spring were to raise standard 12 without restraint.

It is desirable to secure upper standard 12 in its horizontal positionuntil rail 10 is replaced. Latching is convenient for two manreplacement of the rail and is necessary for one man replacement. Thelatch mechanism 74 is shown in FIGURES 1 and 6 to 10. This includes aspring metal latch piece 76 having a bent outstanding latch portion 78catching the edge of upper standard 12 at 80. Latch piece 76 is securedto lower standard 14 by screws 82. The structure would be sufcient forlatching and release of standard 12 without more, but additionalstructure is provided for convenient release comprising a ball 84 guidedin a slot formed by lips 86 on latch piece 76 crimped around the ball,whereby the ball is. movable between the lower initial position shown inFIG- URE 9 when standard 12 is secured by latch portion 78 and the upperrelease position shown in FIGURE 10 abutted to bent latch portion 78 andpermitting edge Sill of upper standard 12 to slide over the latch. Inother' words, the release is operated by moving upper standardl 12downwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 9 until edge 80 passes onthe other side of ball 84, whereby, upon release of upper standard 12,edge 80 carries the ball upward with it and slides over the same pastthe latch and is released. Once the rail is positioned on the two upperstandards 12, the standards are released merely by giving them a pushdownward so that edge 80 passes ball 34. The upper standards then willbe raised by spring 5t) at a rate determined by the setting of hydraulicpiston and cylinder assembly 42. The whole operation can be accomplishedby one man if the rate is low, e.g., he releases one upper standard 12and quickly moves over to release the other.

Cantilevered support of the rail over the landing pit can beaccomplished by other means but preferably is accomplished by the use ofslidably mounted brackets, particularly because this integrates with theconcept of using a single rail supporting pin and other purposes. Pins63 are outstanding from brackets 90 supported on upper standard 12 in acantilevered manner by a pair of square collars 92 slidable on upperstandard 12. These are secured by thumb screws 94 threaded into collars92 and bearing on upper standard 12. Indicia, not shown, is providedbetween bracket 90 and upper standard 12 for accurate location of thebracket. For example, if the indicia is in increments such as 12, 14, 16foot marks and inches therebetween, this means if the fifteen footindicia is aligned on both standards that the pins are at the same leveland the rail is approximately fifteen feet from the top of take-off box20. However, as before indicated the horizontal rails bow between thepins and it is necessary to calibrate for each horizontal rail when itis replaced after a previous rail has been broken or if the rail hasbeen bent during use. The rails may have various cross sections but allforms have at least one flat side so that the rail can be marked as towhich side is down. Then a measurement is made between the rail in thisposition and the top of the take-off box and it is known how far off thereading of the indicia, such as fifteen foot, is from the true distance.If the bowing is one inch then the brackets must be set at fifteen footone inch to achieve the fifteen foot heigh. The same allowance can bemade at each setting until the rail is bent or replaced.

Bracket 90 has a polygonal shape with a horizontal upper side 96. Thelower side 98 is set at a bracing angle, a vertical side 100 abuts upperstandard 12 and an outer vertical side 102 supports pin 68. These sidesmay be made by channel shaped members and may be welded together. Adiagonal brace 104 adds additional strength and serves a purpose as apivot support for securing arm 106. In one model of the inventiontested, side 96 had a length of eighteen inches meaning that pin 63 iscantilevered eighteen inches from standard 12. To achieve substantialresults, the cantilevering should be a minimum of a foot, and eighteeninches is preferred. The safety purposes of this have been detailedbefore. Cantilevering of pin 68 in the manner shown is preferred as itminimizes structure adjacent the vertical plane of the rail andeconomically incorporates with the other functions of adjustment ofheight and of securing the rail to the pin 68.

Securing or rail 10 to pin 68 preferably is accomplished by thestructure detailed in FIGURE 5 in which arm 106 carries a pin finger 110pivotal between a lower position pressing the rail 10 to pin 68 and anupper removed position. The upper position is best seen in FIGURE 5 andit will be noted that finger 110 in this position has the position andpart of the function of a second pin. This is desirable. In previousstandards the pins, separated some distance such as nine inches, weresuperposed. A series of superposed pins are unnecessary. However,vaulters have found occasionally when they strike the rail supported ona lower set of pins, the rail will bounce up against an upper set ofpins and come down and remain on the lower set of pins without fallingoff. Thus vaulters may insist on having the effect of upper and lowerpins separated the conventional distance so that the phenomenon mayoccur occasionally of bouncing of the rail between upper and lower pinswithout dislodgement and so that a successful vault will be recordedWhere otherwise the rail would fall to the ground.

Abutments may be provided in the two positions of securing arm 106 andin the disclosure these abutments may be taken to be pin 120 supportingspring 122 in the upper removed position and to be rail 10 in the lowersecuring position. Securing arm 106 may be pivoted from the securedposition to the released position by pulling on line 60. As beforementioned, line 60 also may be used to pull standard 12 down to itshorizontal position. This may be a nylon or other cord secured to te endof arm 106 at 123 and having preferably both temporary securing andweighted means at the lower end at 124 to keep the cord from being blownin the way of the vaulter. Spring 122 extends between pin 120 andsecuring means 128 on arm 106. The spring will tend to hold finger inposition securing rail 10. Finger 110 may be released by pulling on line60 whereby arm 106 is brought to an upper position and whereby thespring is so disposed, considering friction of the moving parts, thatarm 106 will remain in the upper position shown in FIGURE 5.

In operation the upper standards 12 are: brought down to the horizontalposition and latched, rail 10 is disposed in position and arms 106 arepivoted to the position where fingers 110 secure rail 10 against pins68. Then the upper standards 12 are released and permitted to raise. Ona day that is not windy, line 60 may then be pulled moving arm 106 torelease rail 10. On a windy day during a meet two men may operate thecords 60 so as to release rail 10 about the time the vaulter starts hisvault. During practice particularly on a windy day the rail may be leftin secured position.

The nature, details and operation of my invention, and objectives andadvantages thereof, will be understood from the above description. I do`not wish to be limited to the specific details shown and described, butinstead wish to cover those modifications of my invention which willreadily occur to those skilled in the field from knowledge of myinvention, which modifications are encompassed within the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. Standard means to support with another like standard means ahorizontal rail for pole vaulting comprising:

(a) a base, a standard formed by upper and lower standards and saidlower standard upstanding from said base,

(b) said upper standard pivotally connected to the upper portion of saidlower standard and pivotal from an upright position to a generallyhorizontal position in an upright plane transverse of said rail, saidupper standard in said generally horizontal position extending to theapproach side of said rail,

(c) means between said upper and lower standards normally biasing `Saidupper standard to said upright position,

(d) horizontally outstanding pin means on said upper standard forsupporting said rail for disengagement from said pin means if contactedby the vaulter and which rail can be laid thereon in a position out fromsaid standard, whereby said upper standard may be brought to saidhorizontal position for rail replacement in pole vaulting.

2. The subject matter of claim 1 in which there is a member mounted onsaid upper standard and adjustable therealong and said pin meansincludes a pin outstanding from said member and means operative tosecure said member in various positions vertically, whereby said railmay be supported at selected levels above the ground.

3. In a standard to support with another like standard a horizontal railfor pole vaulting and the like, said standard having a pin on which saidrail is disposed, the improvement, comprising: a member movably mountedon said standard to move between a first position securing said rail tosaid pin and a second removed position, and means manually operable fromthe ground operative to move said member between said first and secondpositions, whereby said rail may be secured in position against beingblown off said pin by the wind or otherwise being dislodged untilreleased by said member.

4. The subject matter of claim 3 in which said member is a linger and inwhich said linger in said removed position is disposed above said pin inthe spaced superposed relation normal to superposed pins on polevaulting standards.

5. Standard means to support with another like standard means ahorizontal rail for pole vaulting and the like, comprising:

(a) a base and a lower standard upstanding from said base,

(b) an upper standard pivotally connected to the upper portion of saidlower standard and pivotal from an upright position to a generallyhorizontal position in an upright plane transverse of said rail, saidupper standard in said generally horizontal position extending to theapproach side of said rail,

(c) means between said upper and lower standards normally biasing saidupper standard to said upright position,

(d) pin means on said upper standard for supporting said rail.

(e) means between said upper and lower standards operative to retardmovement of said upper standard from said generally horizontal positionto said upper position.

6. The subject matter of claim 5 in which said means to retard movementincludes a tluid piston and cylinder having valving means betweenopposite sides of said piston, said valving means adjustably meteringi'luid in the direction in which said fluid passes in raising of saidupper standard whereby said movement is adjustably retarded, saidvalving means permitting substantially free movement of said fluid inthe direction in which said fluid passes in lowering of said upperstandard.

7. The subject matter of claim 6 in which said valving means is housedin said piston and includes a one-way check valve for said substantiallyfree movement of said fluid and includes a restricted opening for saidadjustable metering of fluid, said restricted opening being formed bysaid piston having a threaded bore and threaded piston rod adjustablealong said bore, said rod having axially tapered slots in its end withinsaid piston whereby adjustable metering is achieved by threadedadjustment of said rod in said bore, said fluid being a hydraulic iiuidoil, said means biasing said upper standard to said upright positionbeing a spring housed in said cylinder and acting between an end wall ofsaid cylinder and said piston.

8. Standard means to support with another like standard means ahorizontal rail for pole vaulting and the like, comprising:

(a) a base and a standard upstanding from said base,

(b) pin means on said standard for supporting said rail,

(c) adjustable positioning means between said standard and said base forgenerally horizontal adjustment of said standard in an upright planetransverse of said rail, whereby adjustment in relative positions of thehorizontal rail and a take-off box may be achieved, said adjustablepositioning means including said base having a footing and a pair ofparallel channel tracks mounted on said footing, a platform secured tothe lower end of said standard, and rollers n said platform received insaid tracks.

9. The subject matter of claim 8 in which there is Vsecuring meansbetween said platform and the remainder of said base including amanually adjustable screw threaded in said platform and adjustable tobear on a portion of said remainder of said base.

10. Standard means to support with another like standard means ahorizontal rail for pole vaulting and the like, comprising:

(a) a base and a lower standard upstanding from said base,

(b) an upper standard pivotally connected to the upper portion of saidlower standard and pivotal from an upright position to a generallyhorizontal position in an upright plane transverse of said rail, saidupper standard in said generally horizontal position extending to theapproach side of said rail,

(c) means between said upper and lower standards normally biasing saidupper standard to said upright position,

(d) pin means on said upper standard for supporting said rail,

(e) cantilevering means between said base and said pin means disposingsaid pin means spaced in said upright plane from a vertical through thelocation of attachment between said base and said lower standard, saidpin means being spaced from said vertical to the landing side of saidrail, whereby said rail is supported on said pin means closer to alanding pit or the like to avoid vaulters striking the ground, saidstandards or said base when they land short of the usual landing area.

lll. Standard means to support with another like standard means ahorizontal rail for pole vaulting, comprising: `(a) a base and astandard upstanding from said base,

(b) pin support means on said standard having a horizontally outstandingpin means for supporting said rail, said pin support means beinglowerable to a level whereby a man on the ground may directly manuallyposition a rail on said pin means and raisable to pole vaulting heights,

(c) securing and releasing mean operative to secure said rail on saidpin means and to release said rail on said pin means and operable to itsreleasing position by a man on the ground while said rail is at polevaulting heights, whereby said rail may be secured in place on said pinmeans on occasions.

12. The subject matter of claim 11 in which said securing means includesa finger pivotally mounted to be moved between a first position pressing`the rail to said pin means and a second removed position.

13. Standard means to support with another like standard means ahorizontal rail for pole vaulting, comprising:

a base and a standard upstanding from said base, a bracket mounted onsaid standard and pin means mounted on said bracket, said bracket beingslidable on said standard for adjusting pole vaulting rail heights, saidbracket being disposed in a plane transverse of said rail and beingdirected to the landing side of said standard whereby a vaulter making ashort landing may not strike the ground, said standard or said base,manually operable means operative to secure said bracket in positionwhereby said rail may be supported at various distances from the ground,means for lowering said bracket to man height for replacement of a polev-aulting rail on said pin means by a man standing on the ground, andmeans mounted on said bracket for selectively securing said rail inposition on said pin means or releasing said rail.

14. Standard means to support with another like standard means ahorizontal rail for pole vaulting, comprising:

(a) a base and a standard upstanding from said base,

(b) a bracket on said satndard having pin means for supporting saidrail,

(c) an arm pivotally mounted on said bracket and having a finger at oneend pivotal between a rst position securing said rail to said pin meansand a second position removed above said pin means, said pin meansconsisting of a single pin outstanding on said bracket, said ringer insaid second removed position being disposed in the manner of a secondpin spaced above said single pin achieving the effect of superposed pinsin conventional standards, a spring between said arm and said bracketpressing said linger to said rail in said rst position, a line securedto said arm operable from the ground to move said arm to said secondposition against the resistance of said spring.

l5. Standard means to support with another like standard means ahorizontal rail for pole vaulting and the like, comprising:

(a) a base and a lower standard upstanding from said base,

(b) an upper standard pivotally connected to the upper portion of saidlower standard and pivotal from an upright position to a generallyhorizontal posi tion in an upright plane transverse of said rail, saidupper standard in said generally horizontal position extending to theapproach side of said rail,

(C) means between said upper and lower standards normally biasing saidupper standard to said upright position,

(d) pin means on said upper standard for supporting said rail,

(e) means operative to hold said upper standard in said generallyhorizontal position including a spring latch member secured to saidlower standard and having a bent outstanding latch portion catching aportion of said upper standard, a ball and guide means for said ball onsaid latch member below said bent outstanding latch portion, wherebysaid latch member may be released by bringing said portion of said upperstandard down past said bail whereby on release said portion of saidupper standard carries said ball with it as it moves upwards and iscammed by the ball past said bent outstanding latch portion so that saidupper standard may return to said upright position under the force of4said means biasing said upper standard to said upright position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 218,404 8/1879Shimoneck 272-59.1 2,119,808 6/1938 Fecht 272-59.l 2,236,935 4/1941Cameron 272-591 2,588,722 3/ 1952 Hendershott 272-591 X 3,024,022 3/1962 Goyette 272-59 FOREIGN PATENTS 254,972 l2/19l2 Germany.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner.

11. STANDARD MEANS TO SUPPORT WITH ANOTHER LIKE STANDARD MEANS AHORIZONTAL RAIL FOR POLE VAULTING, COMPRISING: (A) A BASE AND A STANDARDUPSTANDING FROM SAID BASE, (B) PIN SUPPORT MEANS ON SAID STANDARD HAVINGA HORIZONTALLY OUTSTANDING PIN MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID RAIL, SAID PINSUPPORT MEANS BEING LOWERABLE TO A LEVEL WHEREBY A MAN ON THE GROUND MAYDIRECTLY MANUALLY POSITION A RAIL ON SAID PIN MEANS AND RAISABLE TO POLEVAULTING HEIGHTS, (C) SECURING AND RELEASING MEANS OPERATIVE TO SECURESAID RAIL ON SAID PIN MEANS AND TO RELEASE SAID RAIL ON SAID PIN MEANSAND OPERABLE TO ITS RELEASING POSITION BY A MAN ON THE GROUND WHILE SAIDRAIL IS AT POLE VAULTING HEIGHTS, WHEREBY SAID RAIL MAY BE SECURED INPLACE ON SAID PIN MEANS ON OCCASSIONS.